WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today announced the immediate availability of $1 million in Emergency Relief (ER) funds from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to help begin repairs on flood-damaged roads and bridges in north and central Pennsylvania.
“The flooding has caused significant damage to roads and bridges in central part of the state and Pennsylvanians are just beginning to pick up the pieces,” said Secretary Foxx. “This funding will help expedite the recovery process.”
On October 20-21, heavy rainfall resulted in flooding, which damaged a number of highways and bridges in Lycoming, Sullivan, Clearfield, Centre, and Bradford counties, including PA 973, PA 87 and PA 154.
The $1 million in “quick release” funding will be used to restore emergency access and to initiate the most critical repairs to these damaged roadways and bridges in the next few weeks.
“The funding will help the state start repairs immediately, representing the first installment of federal resources while the state completes its damage assessments,” said Federal Highway Administrator Gregory Nadeau. “It will help ensure vital links are restored so people can get back to their lives.”
This initial “quick release” payment is considered a down payment on the costs of short-term repairs now, which can make long-term repair work possible in the weeks ahead. The FHWA’s ER program provides funding for highways and bridges damaged by natural disasters or catastrophic events.
